Whether you’ve decided to become a roaming nomad or holidays have you searching for new adventures, if your choice of travel takes the form of caravan/campervan/pimped out Kombi, then you’ll want to make sure you pit stop at these top holiday and national park locations.

Combining two holiday destinations in one, you can choose to snooze by the lapping waves of Maroochydore Beach or perched on the grassy banks overlooking the calmer waters of the Maroochy River.

Don’t forget the water toys, because this spot is a sea-lovers playground: surfing, kite-surfing, stand-up paddle boarding, body boarding, kayaking… you get the drift.

And if you’re itching for a night on the town (unlikely considering how blissfully ‘laxed you’ll find yourself here), you’ve got the bustling Ocean Street in Maroochydore and Mooloolaba Esplanade on either side.

Palm Cove Holiday Park

Staying at the Palm Cove Holiday Park is like having a tropical paradise at your doorstep; located at the north end of the famous palm tree-lined promenade, you’ve got everything you need mere minutes away, including jetty fishing (bait and tackle can be bought at the park’s kiosk), calm waters, and when you feel like treating yo’ self, award-winning restaurants, trendy shopping, and day spas along the main strip.

FYI, you’re also sandwiched between reef and rainforest here, so if you feel like getting your explorer on, head to the visitor information desk for more info on day trips to Cape Tribulation, Kuranda, and the Great Barrier Reef.

Tallebudgera Creek Tourist Park

Perched on the idyllic Tallebudgera estuary, this park is another contender for anyone serious about their water hobbies.

On one hand, you’ve got the calm waters of Tallebudgera Creek, perfect for kayaking, SUP-ing, and a spot of fishing (there’s a boat ramp adjacent to the park); the other, a patrolled surf beach 300 metres down the road.

And did we mention there’s not one, but three swimming pools on site?! (Heated seasonally and one for adults only. #hallelujah)

Land-lubbers aren’t left out either, with scenic walking tracks at Burleigh Head National Park only a 20-minute hop, skip and jump from your site, and the thrills of spills of the Gold Coast’s famous theme parks a half-hour drive away.

Captain Cook Holiday Village – Seventeen Seventy

You might have guessed the Captain Cook Holiday Village was named after a certain British explorer, and you’d be right, done so to honour the town’s history as the second landing site of the captain and his HMS Endeavor crew back in (you guessed it) 1770.

Here, time becomes a blur as you to-and-fro between the calm bush setting of the park and the secluded beach down the back, which has pretty decent surf, mind you.

When adventure is calling, head to the reception desk to book a day trip to Lady Musgrave Island or Fitzroy Reef for a snorkel/scuba sesh, or hop aboard the pink amphibious LARC! and traverse through deserted sandy beaches and pristine estuaries on your way to the historic Bustard Head Lighthouse.

If rods and reels are more your thing, you can hook into some coral trout and Spanish mackerel on an offshore fishing charter.

Bush

Mount Barney Lodge

Open camp fires, bush walks through World Heritage-listed rainforest, creek frontage sites with swimming holes… yep, sign us up for this country charmer ASAP.

Tucked in the Scenic Rim two hours south of Brisbane, Mount Barney Lodge is a welcome breather from the hustle and bustle of big city life (don’t act like you didn’t just read that in a reggae voice).

Situated at the base of Queensland’s second-highest mountain, the lodge (surprisingly) offers visitors the best of both worlds – relaxation and adrenaline-pumping action activities.

Say whaaat?

As well as being the gateway to some of the best remote bushwalking opportunities in the region, guests can also take part in a range of eco activities like rock climbing, abseiling, and guided mountain expeditions.

Queen Mary Falls Caravan and Tourist Park

If going off the grid is more your style, check into the Queen Mary Falls Caravan and Tourist Park.

Nestled in the mountains of Main Range National Park, two and a half hours from the Gold Coast, the park is the very definition of the word tranquillity, with barley-there mobile reception or TV signal, just you and Mother Nature in all her natural bush glory.

That’s right, you’ll be cutting all ties to technology here, folks, and for some this kind of digital detox is a godsend.

Spend your days bushwalking the park’s namesake along the Queen Mary Falls circuit, 4WDing through creek crossings of the Condamine Gorge, hand-feeding the resident king parrots, or doing absolutely nothing at all.

Takarakka Bush Resort

If a decent road trip is on the cards, take a turn west to Takarakka Bush Resort in Queensland’s central highlands.

Sitting on the cusp of Carnarvon National Park, the major drawcard pulling most travellers out this way is the jaw-dropping sights of Carnarvon Gorge, although for some it’s the guaranteed peace and quiet that has them escaping to this natural wonderland.

But ancient rainforests and prehistoric scenery aside, this holiday park is pretty impressive in its own right. Set on 100 acres, it boasts roomy sites, camp oven pits, free hot showers, and happy hour every day at 4pm.

And don’t be surprised to see a rogue kangaroo or 10 outside your door. Or a cute-as-a-button echidna. Or a platypus down at the creek. #naturerules

Author

A born and bred Queenslander, Ariana grew up in a small town in Tropical North Queensland but now calls Brisbane home (after a five-year stint beachin' it on the Sunshine Coast). When she's not eating her way through the big smoke or cuddling dogs, you can find her Insta-snappin' Mother Nature in all her glory.